ASU President William H. Harris commented on the passing of the 1952 graduate: "Fred Shuttlesworth's death marks the end of a historic and heroic life."

"Very few people in the Civil Rights Movement during the dark days of the 1950s and 1960s had the courage to face down the terrorists who brutalized so much of America's citizenry, and thus, made our nation a benighted place," Harris said.

"Fred Shuttlesworth was personally bombed, brutally beaten, jailed, harassed and had his property seized, yet he persevered. His alma mater, Alabama State University, deeply mourns his loss while celebrating the significant contributions to freedom, equality and justice of this outstanding alumnus."